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Dec. 9, 2024
Contact: Tammy Newcomb, 517-930-3690
Michigan applauds award of first construction contract for Brandon Road Interbasin Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, awarded the first construction contract for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project on November 27. The $15.5 million contract was awarded to Miami Marine Services for site preparation and riverbed rock removal for the engineered channel. Miami Marine will partner with Michels Construction, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for completion of this contract.
This project, which is a partnership between USACE and the States of Illinois and Michigan, is part of the first of three construction increments for the estimated $1.15 billion project designed to prevent the upstream movement of aquatic nuisance species into the Great Lakes.
“This contract award is an important step forward as we get shovels into the ground on the Brandon Road Project,” said Governor Whitmer. “The Great Lakes define Michigan. They support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and drive tens of billions of dollars in economic impact. Building Brandon Road will help us protect local communities, grow our economy, and ensure future Michiganders can enjoy these incredible natural resources for generations to come.”
Protecting the Great Lakes from the threat of invasive carp has bipartisan support in Michigan, with Gov. Whitmer pledging $64 million to match a $50 million commitment from Illinois, unlocking $274 million in federal funds for the project.
Michigan has participated in discussions and feasibility studies on how to best protect the Great Lakes for more than 10 years and previously contributed $8 million in support of the nonfederal funding for the planning, engineering and design phase of this project.
Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois, was identified as the critical pinch point where layered technologies could be used to stop invasive carp populations from moving into the Great Lakes.
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Invasive carp can grow up to 60 pounds, eating 40% of their body weight each day. Each female can produce 1 million eggs. Given their high reproduction and consumption rates, it would take as few as ten female and ten male carp crossing into the Great Lakes to establish a population.
If established, invasive carp could outcompete native species and greatly harm the ecology and economy of the entire Great Lakes region, including rivers and inland lakes, and its $20 billion fishing and boating industries.
For more information visit: www.mvr.usace.army.mil/BRIP/or contact the USACE Rock Island District by phone at 309-794-5729 or email at: [email protected]
Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.
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Brandon Road: An aerial view of the Brandon Road lock and dam near Joliet, Illinois. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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